Tuyere for converters or the like



` P. A. FAUST TUYERE FOR CONVERTERS OR TIIIE LIKE Sheet's-Sheet 1 Filed May 5, 1924 atroz nur.

ee. 2, w24, 1511972 P. A. FAusT TUYERE FOR coNvERTERs on THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 5, 1924 Patented Dec. 2, 1924.

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PER ALEXANDER FAUST, F MIAMI, ARIZONA.

TUYRE FOR CONVERTERS OR THE LIKE.

Application led May 5,

. To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, Pun ALnXANDnn Fausr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Miami, in the county of Gila and State of Arizona, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tuyeres for Converters or the like, of which the following is a specification.

The invent-ion relates to tuyres and more particularly to tuyres for converters, or similar metallurgical apparatus, which undergo periodic punching operations for the purpose of preventing the blocking up of the tuyre pipes and insuring the passage of a constant stream of air or similar fluid into the charge.

More specifically, the improvement comprises special means for enabling` these punching operat-ions to be performed without the dangers and disadvantages co-mmonly attending them.

In the copper converting industry, for example, each converter is equipped with from twenty to thirty tuyere pipes, to which air for the charge under from ten to fifteen pounds pressure is conducted in turn from avmain and a wind-box.

Due to the comparatively low temperature of the air entering the molten charge, the liquid chills at the point of contact therewith and the discharge ends of the tuyere pipes soon become blocked. To prevent this and keep a constant stream of air entering through the tuyre a punch rod is introduced at frequent intervals into the charge through each of the tuyerepipes past a suitable valve located at or on the fore-wall of the tuyre box. rI`he duration of the blow' of a charge in the particular converter operation referred to by way of example is about three and one-half hours, and within this period each tuy`ere has to be punched anywhere from fifty to one hundred times, the punch rod being inserted and withdrawn completely each time.

Practical punching operation requires a punch rod having an upset end and since the tuyre pipe, which may be assumed for illustration to be of one and one-half inches diameter, has to be reamed out with a bar one inch or more in diameter after the fiuished charge is removed from the converter, an opening with a minimum dian'ieter of about one and five-sixteenths inches is required in the body of the tuyre valve, which opening is only partly filled'therefore by 1924. Serial No. 711,271.

the shank of the punch rod. Consequently, when the rod is inserted and the valve is lifted from its seat, a blast of air escapes around the shank of the rod. As the rod is withdrawn from the molten charge the escaping air is filled with a shower of sparks or bits of red hot metal, a circumstance which makes the duty of the puncher at the present time a disagreeable one and decidedly dangerous unless he is well protected by leather apron, gloves and goggles. Furthermore, compressed air is wasted, and the consequent lowering of the pressure in the tuyre renders the punching operation less effective than if it were accomplished under full pressure.

The object of the present invention is to provide means for preventing the escape of compressed air during the punchingoperation, thereby eliminating the disadvantages and dangers attending this operation as con ducted at present.

The aforementioned object is accomplished by the. provision of means between the -usual tuyre valve and the operator or cpuncher for engaging the punch-rod to close offl the passage which otherwise would exist between the rod and the tuyre tube due to the difference in their diameters, as previously explained. rl`he means. referred to is in effect a sort of auxiliary valve, and preferably it acts automatically upon introduction of the punch rod to close upon the shank of the same. If automatic, it is preferably of a yielding or expandible type, and so constructed and arranged as to fit closely about the shank of the rod and yet permit ready passage therethrough of the upsetend of the punch rod during entry or withdrawal of the rod.

Having thus referred briefly to the objects and general construction of my invention, I shall now describe more particularly, and for a fuller understanding of its principle and scope, one embodiment of the improvements, referring for this purpose to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view, partly broken away, of a conventional converter having my improvements applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on a somewhat larger scale than Fig. 1 showing` a tuyere embodying one form which the present improvements may take, and also showing a punch rod of conventional type in position to be introduced into the tuyere;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation oit the auxiliary valve housing as viewed from the` lett in Fig. 2, part thereof being broken away;

Fig. 4L illustrates: in perspective a pre.- ferred form of valve;

Fig. 5 shows in perspective a detail of the valve;

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view ot the valve with modified means for attaching the valve casing in place, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing the embodiment of the invention used in connection with a second type ot tuyre valve, and also showing another manner of securing the auxiliary valve casing in place.

In the. drawings, the numeral 10` indicates a converter of conventional torni having a wind-box 11, supplied with air in customary manner from a main, not shown, which similarly supplies air to all ot the tuyeres of the converter. The wind-box 11 communicates with the tuyere 12 through a passage 13. The tuyere pipe 1li is secured tothe rear of the tuyere and passes through V the acket and lining of the converter to 'the interior of the same and a slight distance into the charge. The tuyere is shown tixed in position against the wind-box by means ot' a supporting bracket 15 and adjustment screw 1G. A tuyre valve 17, shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as an inwardly swinging flap-valve having a sphere-segment protuberance 18 on its outer cheek, closes the port 19 in the fore-wall of the tuyere, through which port the punch-rod 20, Fig. 2, having an upset head 21 may be introduced periodically to open up the t-uyre pipe 14 in 'the well known manner. Referring to F 2, the front plate or block 22 ot the tuyere may be .secured to the latter by means of screwbolts 23 passing through eyes 241 in the plate or flanges thereon. The eyes 2st are slightly larger than the diameter ot' the bolts so that the plate 22 may be centered properly before tightening the bolts 23. The valve 17 is shown pivoted on a pin 255 carried in the squared head 26 of a. screw-bolt 27 which threads into the block 22 from the rear side thereof.

I shall now proceed to describe those parts which are related more directly to my improvements. Beyond the tuyere valve 17, that is, on the opposite side of the tuyere valve from the tuyre box 28, is secured an assembly 01' cooperating elements arranged about the port or passageway 19, through which the punch rod 2O is introduced, in such manner as to close upon or be closed upon the shank of the rod when the upset end thereof .is entered so i'ar as to open partly or wholly the tuyere 'valve 17. ln its preferred torni the assembly, as shown in detail in F lgs. 2, -ft and 5, comprises a number of interlocking or overlapping plates or` sect-ions 2f), 'tour such sections being illustrated, and each being roughly of quadrant shape, the series matching, when closed upon one another as shown in Fig. il, to it'orm a spool-like body having' flat sides, an open center or eye 3() and a pcripheral groove 31. This is attained by shaping the plates as shown in Fig. 5, wherein it will be seen that a portion, say 300, of the opposite ends ot the sides ol Aach sec-tion is cut away to the central plane as indicated at 32 to receive the corresponding shoulder ot the next adjacent plate. By this arrangement the lines of division breakr joint with one another and there is no direct path :tor possible leakage axially across the assemliily. Each section is bevelled cent-rally at on one side and at 3a on the other, a relatively narrow flat portion or throat being lett cylindrical. A. groove is formed in each section so that when assembled the continuous peripheral groove 31, Fig. 4, is provided. The eye 30, when the plates or sect-ions are entirely closed upon one another and when the eye is therefore of smallest diameter, should not be greater than the diameter otl the shank of the punch rod and preferably is of the same diameter, although it may be smaller.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will .be seen that the assembled sections are held in contact axially by engagement on one side with the outer wall 36 of .the block 22 and on 'the other side with the inner tace 37 of a housing or casing 38 which` is removably secured to the block 22 or tore-wall oit the tuyere in a manner presently to be described. rlhe casing 38, shown in iront elevation in Fig. 3, is provided with an opening 39 in alinement with the port 1l) ol plate 22 and it may be `tia-red as at 1() to facilitate entry ot' the punch rod head 2l. 'lhe port 19 ot' the block may similarly be vflared as indicated at e1.

An endless spiral spring -12 in the peripheral groove 3l encircles the plate-sections 29 and yieldingly presses them radially inward toward the maximum position ot' interlocking relation. rhe sections 29 tit iairly snugly in the space between the two walls 36 and 37 so as to prevent material leakage ol air past the same, but the (it is not so close as to interfere with the radial movement ot the sections under the action ot' the spring or when spread apart by the 'punch rod.

With the form of assembly just described it is desirable to enclose the same in a housing such as casing 38 previously.described. lt the elements oit the assembly are moved into or out of rod engaging position by hand, the casing 38 may ot course be modi- Vtied sonnwhat or omitted altogether it' desired, any suitable means being employed to support the assei'nl'ily against the front ot the tuyere with its center in alinement with the entrance to the tuyre and the tuyre pipe. When a casing is employed it may be removably attached to the tuyere in any suitable manner. As indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the casing is attached in the following manner: The foreblock 22 of the tuyre is formed or provided along the periphery of its outermost portion with two flanges 43, eact of which may extend over an are of say 900, leaving opposed arcuate open sections e4, in the instance mentioned, extending also over arcs of 90O each. The rear of the casing 33 is formed or provided with a pair of inwardly turned lips 45, each of which extends over an arc not greater than that of the spaces between the flanges 43. Between these lips arcuate spaces are left which will be sufficiently long to permit passage therethrough of the opposed "flanges 43. rllhe distance of the inner walls 4G of the lips 45 from the rear face l? of the casing is such as to receive snugly the flange sections 43 upon relative rotation of the casing 38 and the block 22 when the lips 43 have passed through the arcuate spaces between the flanges 45; and in order to bind the parts in assembled position the walls 46 of the lips and (or) the contacting sides of the flanges 43 may be formed with shallow cam surfaces in a manner well understood in the metal-working arts.

The use of the above described improvements will be apparent from Fig. 2. As the punch rod 2O is introduced into the tuyre the upset head 21 thereof will ride upon the bevelled surface 33 of the expandible ring or spool and force the sections 29 apart against the tension of the resilient restraining means l2 until the eye of the ring is suiiiciently large to permit the passage of the punch rod head 21. After the latter has passed through the eye the sections 29 are immediately pressed inwardly to close tightly upon the shank of the punch rod. Further movement of the punch rod opens the tuyre valve 17 and the punch rod may then be moved across the tuyre into and through the tuyere pipe l-le in the customary manner.

It will be seen that so long as the valve 17 is held wholly or partly open by the punch rod, escape of air from the tuyere through the annular space between the rod and the inner wall of the block 22 is prevented by the auxiliary valve which I provide. Upon withdrawal of the punch rod the bevelled rear side of the upset head 21 will cause it to be guided and centered by the inclined surface 34 of the expandible. ring and the head will force the sect-ions 29 apart just as in the case of its introduction: the tuyere valve 1,7 has closed in the meantime.

ln Fig. (i, the casing 38 is hinged at 48 to a flange formed for that purpose on the thereof with respect to the fore-plate of thetuyere for attachment, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 7, the casing may be provided with a polygonal extension such as the hexagonal nut 53 for application of a wrench.

`While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious that in its broader aspect the means employed to attain the desired result may be widely varied. For example, it will be apparent that the elastic means for pressing the plate sections inwardly against the shank ofthe punch rod need not be integral; in fact spring-members whether integral or of separate pieces may be dispensed with if it is not deemed necessary that the action of the plates be automatic, and the overlapping plate sections may in such case be spread or closed or both, by hand, for instance in a manner analogous to that common in the use of well known iris shutters for cameras; and the plates may be housed or not. Other obvious variations of certain of the details illustrated may of course be introduced without de` parting from the invention in its broader scope; and the appended claims are to be construed specifically only in so far as the elements referred to in the respective claims are .specifically described therein.

I claim:-

1. 1n combination with a tuyre provided with means affording entry therethrough of a punching` tool, means closable uponthe shank of' the tool to prevent escape of iiuid from the tuyre when the tool is inserted.

2. In combination with a tuyere provided with means affording entry therethrough of a punching tool, means auton'iatically closable upon the shank of the inserted tool to prevent escape of fluid from the tuyre.

3. In combination with a tuyere provided with means including the usual tuyere valve affording entry of a punch rod through the tuy`ere, an auxiliary valve closable upon the shank of the rod to prevent escape of fluid from the tuy`ere when the tool is inserted.

l. In combination with a tuyere pro-vided with means including the usual tuyrcvalve affording entry of a punch rod through the tuyere. an auxiliary valve automatically closable upon the shank of the inserted rod to prevent escape of fluid from the tuyere.

5. 1n combination with a tuyere provided with means aiording entry therethrough ol a punch rod ot the type having an upset end, an expandible valve automatically closable upon the shank ot the inserted rod to prevent escape or' fluid from the tuyere, said valve being expanded by engagement therewith of the upset end of the punch rod upon entry or withdrawal ot the latter.

6. ln combination with a tuyere provided with means allerding entry therethrough of a punching tool, a series ot co-operating` plates arranged about the path of travel ot said tool and adapted to contactalong their inner edges with the shank of the tool, thereby providing a closure about the inserted tool to prevent escape ot fluid from the tuyere.

7. ln combination with a tuyere provided with means including the usual tuyere valve affording entry oft a punch rod through the tnyere, a casing on the fornvard portion ot the tuyere, a series ot plates within said casing in advance o't said valve and arranged radially about the path ot travel of said rod in a plane transverse ot the tool and adapted to Contact along their inner edges with the shank ot the rod, and yieldable means tending to maintain said plates in contact with the rod when inserted, said plates co-operating` and forming with said casing an auX- iliary valve to prevent escape of fluid from the tuyere around the rod.

8. In combination with a tuyere provided with means including the usual tuyere valve atl'ording entry ot a punch rod through the tuyre, a casing in front of the tuyere, a series of plates within said easing and arranged radially about the path ot travel ot said rod in a plane transverse of the tool, the inner edges ot the plates being adapted to contact with the shank ot' the rod when the latter is inserted, and formi-ng an eye through which the rod is introduced, and yieldable means tending to maintain said plates in contact with the rod, said plates co-operating and torn'iing with said casing an auxiliary valve to prevent escape of tiuid from the tuyere.

9. ln combination with a tuyre provided with means affording entry therethrough of a punching tool, a series ot overlapping, substantially sector-shaped plates arranged radially about the path of travel of said tool in a plane transverse ot the tool and adapted to contact along their inner edges with the shank of' the tool, thereby providing a closure about the inserted tool to prevent escape et iiuid from the tuyere, and yieldable means tor applying: centrally directed pressure on the plates.

10. ln combination with a tuyere provided with means attording entry therethrough ot a punch rod, a series ot substantially sector-shaped pla-tes arranged about the path ot travel of said rod each plate having a portion of each of its sides reduced to aliord intertitting and overlapping contact of adjacent plates, and elastic means for maintaining the plates in yielding contact along their inner edges with the rod when inserted, thereby preventing escape of fluid from the tuyre.

ll. 1n combination with a tuyre provided with means atl'ording entry therethrough ot a punch rod, a. series of substantially sector-shaped plates arranged about the path of travel of said rod, each plate having a portion ot' each ot its sides reduced to attord interlitting and overlapping contact ot adjacent plates and grooved along its circumference so that when assembled a continuous, peripheral groove is provided about the assembly, and a spring in said peripheral groove tor maintaining` the plates in yielding contact along their inner edges with the rod when inserted, thereby preventing escape oli' fluid trom the tuyere.

l2. ln combination with a tuyere provided with means including the usual tuyere valve al'ording entry ot' a punch rod through the tu yere, a casing Ylor attachment to the tuyere and having an opening adapted to register with the tuyere opening, a series ot substantially sector-shaped plates in said casing about the opening in said casing, each plate having a. portion of each ot its sides reduced to afford intertitting and overlapping contact of adjacent plates and grooved along its circumference so that when assembled a continuous, peripheral groove is provided about the assembly, the assembly having slidable contact along its opposite sides with the interior of said casing, and a spring in said peripheral groove 'for niiaintaining the plates in yielding co-ntact along their inner edges with the rod when inserted, said plates co-operating and forming with said casing an auxiliary valve to prevent escape oit fluid from the tuyere.

13. An attachment for converters or the like. having tuyeres through which a punch rod is introduced, comprising a casing removably attachable to the tuyre, and means within said casing for yieldingly engaging the rod and co-operating with said casing tol intercept the passage of air from the tuyere along the rod.

lil. An attachment tor converters or the like having tuyeres through which a punch rod is introduced, comprising a casing having` an interi-mated thread adapted to engage a corresponding thread on the tuyere for detachably securing said casing on said tuye're, and means within said casing lor yieldingly engaging the rod and co-operating` with said casing to intercept the passage oi? air Ytrein the tuyre along the rod.

ln testimonv whereof, l aiiix my signature.

PER ALEXANDER FAUST. 

